Seattle Seahawks: 3 Big takeaways from win vs. Cowboys in Week 3
By Samuel Teets
The pass rush is beginning to work
Four different Seahawks pass rushers got home on Sunday. The team totaled five sacks against Dak Prescott, terrorizing the Dallas quarterback. This is the first time that Seattle has been able to consistently apply pressure this year.
The pass rush’s success was a positive sign for the team that is relying on a lot of new defenders this year. In past seasons Cliff Avril, Michael Bennett and Frank Clark have led the team in sacks. Avril and Bennett both left the Seahawks in the offseason, leaving Clark as the only really experienced pass rusher. On top of that, K.J. Wright, who has rushed the quarterback in the past, has yet to play this season.
Usually the team relies on Clark to be the primary pass rusher and he’s recorded a sack in every game this season. But a defensive front can’t be effective with just one pass rusher, which is why Sunday’s performance is so crucial. Mychal Kendricks got a sack for the second-straight week, proving he was a good addition despite the pending charges against him.
Third-year defensive tackle Jarran Reed put up two sacks in the win, setting his personal record for sacks in a season. Reed failed to apply consistent pressure for the last two years even though he started 15 games in 2017. The Seahawks are hoping his performance is a sign of better things to come from the 25-year old defender. Offseason addition Barkevious Mingo also contributed, recording his first sack in a Seahawks uniform.